The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-09-24
PROFITABLE BEGGING.
How Ono New Yorker Derives an Annual
In LaL. IInu.aLl IlalIaEx

| York resides man who is profes-
sIonal beggar. BY following this occu-
patton he has an income Of $40. ZOO per
year He goes into good society and is
one Of the greatest wits and practical
jOkers in town. 80 that his company is
much sought after He does not 90
prOwling about the streets, however,
begging quarter or whatever he can
get. lie would disdain to accept less
than 800, still he manages to collect
$4,000 every year. He used To be
drummer for one of the larger dry
goods houses here. and an excellent
one hc was too, but he found he could
make more money begging. He never
asks money from any one but rich
people and believe if any other kind
Of people were 10 offer him money he
would refuse it. He does not, how
ever, beg directly for himself. but for
the New York Children, Home. The
head Of the dry goods firm with which
he was formerly engaged il the presi-
dent Of this institution; and, knowing
that his salesman was noted for his
cheek, hc asked him one day during a
dull season if he would circulate among
the millionaires and get up subscrip-
tiOns for the maintenance Of the insti-
tuition. ilo agreed, and the frs, day
he started out he collected more than
it was expected he could do in week.
The result was that he was offered
certain percentage Of what he COLI
lccted. and he found that il wog.d pa,
him to keep il all the time.
lie says at first it was very trying
work, but now he has it 50 systomatized
that on the whole he rather likes the
business, aside from what money there
Is IN it. "My experience" he says.
"showS me that the average New York
millionaire is much more liberal man
than the public supposes. Tho only
difficulty is in seeking these men and
! presenting your claims. | worked six
months before | was able to see Jay
Gould. During that time went to his
Office on an average Of twice a day,
my efforts were in vain.
"Finally caught him on an elevated
/ AAhlI' hl' N'H'lhS NY oAli p'7l'' Hllll llc
was obliged to listen to me. asked
! for five hundred dollars. lie told me
to call on him the next day and he
would give me his check for the
amount. | went TO his office, but, not
withstanding stated what had passed
between the millionaire and myself, |
was refused admittance to his private
room. | then made up my mind that
! Mr.. Gould had thrown me of, but was
! determined To watch him again. |
| found out whore he kept his private
bank account and got Il check on that
institution, which filled out for five
hundred dollars, A month afterward
! ] ran across Mr. Gould again in the
| Windsor Hotel. tie did not remember
me, but | recalled our conversation,
and ho again told me to call at his Of
flee, but replied by presenting him
tho check and telling him it would not
take him moment to put his sigma
turcto it, and he did. Since then Mr..
Gould has every year renewed his sub
scy'ipiion without any difficulty, and
really believe it gives him pleasure to
do so. Since thon have got to know
him, aud the public would be surprised
if it knew the amount he gives away
each year in charity in this unostenta-
tious manner.
IL had still greater difficulty in Sc
curing subscription from the late
William H. Vanderbilt. | knew very
well that if | could talk with Mr. Van
derbilt there would be no trouble about
getting him to give me "A subscription,
and, after innumcrablc calls upon him
without success, | discovered that he
was in the habit of having his tailor
send n man to measure him ut his
house for suit of clothes. I went one
night to his mansion and represented
myself rs IA tailor, and in IT, way was
ushered into Mr.. Nanderbilts presence.
After exchanging greetings | said;
"Mr, Vanderbilt, in order to get to
see YOU have lied; but | have done it
in behalf of charity. Instead of COM
ING and measuring YOU for suit of
clothes | have come to measure your
generosity in behalf of u most worthy
institution
"Tho millionaire was very angry at
first and started to call his valet and
have him show me the door. but inn
pedcd his exit and kept on talking, and
before got through had Mr.. Nander-
bilt's check ior neat sum besides TAX
ing glass of wine and cigar with
him Up to the time of his death he
always renewed his subscription and
his sons DO itnow for him.
"l'he easiest of the millionaircS to
get money from up to n year or SO ago
was H. L, Elowcr. but his warm-hearted
generosity became so well known that
the man was actually prosecuted. He
Is 50 democratic in his manners that
any one who desires can get an audi
tncc with him. and there is always lot
of bcggars about his office. hence he
was compelled to make n rule only to
subscribe To organized charity. Now,
if YOU would see the subscription books
of the various charitable institutions
YOU would see that New lork'S rich
men are pretty we'll represented upon
them. " u Cor. SdcdnHdh NcWS.
Forty years ago. wnen ----.--
James Il. Stcedman was president o
the Ohio State Board pf Public Work.